County administrator named to the EPA Advisory Committee, Subcommittee

County Administrator Brian Fulton was recently selected as one of 33 individuals nationwide to be named to the National EPA Advisory Committee. He will also serve as Vice Chair to their Small Community Advisory Subcommittee. (Environmental Protection Agency)Tyler Carter | tcarter@al.com

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- The Environmental Protection Agency has named Jackson County Administrator Brian Fulton to its Local Government Advisory Committee they announced on Tuesday.

Fulton is one of 33 individuals nationwide selected to help the EPA develop strong partnerships with local governments to provide more efficient and effective environmental protection at the community, state and federal level.

He has also been appointed to the Small Community Advisory Subcommittee (SCAS), which helps EPA develop robust partnerships with small communities to address environmental and public health issues.

Fulton will serve as Vice Chair of the subcommittee.

"EPA's efforts to protect public health and the environment are most effective when the Agency works cooperatively with state and local governments," said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. "I look forward to working with the committee members on important environmental issues while developing stronger and more robust partnerships across states, tribes, and local communities."

Because of the role Fulton played during Hurricane Katrina and other disasters that have struck the Mississippi Gulf Coast, he was chosen to serve on the committee because of how valuable his contributions were, according to EPA Region 4 Administrator Trey Glenn.

"County Administrator Fulton brings a wealth of experience in working with local, state, and federal partners," he said. "His leadership, exemplified by his efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, will be an asset to this committee."

Congressman Steven Palazzo issued a congratulatory statement in support of Pruitt's appointment of Fulton.

"I commend Administrator Pruitt on his decision to appoint Mr. Fulton to the Local Government Advisory Committee. He is a strong leader and advocate for environmental issues, both locally and nationally. As I told Administrator Pruitt when I nominated Mr. Fulton, he is well-versed in private-public partnerships, coalition building, and implementation of federal, state, and local environmental regulatory programs and economic development. For those reasons and many more, Mr. Fulton will serve as an asset to the committee, and to the Administration at large."

Fulton said he appreciates the appointment and said his experience should serve him well in this new position.

"As a representative of a county that has a diverse mixture of industrial development, urban and rural components and eco-tourism, I understand the challenges communities face in balancing environmental protection while improving quality of life and encouraging economic growth," he said.

"I am honored to serve on this committee and look forward to being part of its collaborative effort to help find solutions to these challenges and ensure communities across America remain both viable and sustainable," Fulton said.